Parents

What to expect

Purpose of Residential Family Centres

If you have been placed in a Residential Family Centre, either by a Judge or by voluntarily agreeing to be placed in a setting to assess your capacity to parent, you may be unsure of what to expect.

CCTV and Behavioural Expectations

A Residential Family Centre (or RFC) is a setting, usually a house, either with self-contained flats or with separate bedrooms with communal living and dining areas into which parents are placed so that a team of professionals can support you to learn to care for your child. It is the primary responsibility of an RFC to safeguard your child and to keep you both safe on behalf of the Local Authority. You may be placed into the RFC either on your own or with your partner, and placements usually last approximately 12 -13 weeks.

Many RFCs have CCTV in them; some cameras may be in your bedroom, and some may be in communal areas, but the location of the cameras should be explained to you before you begin your placement. Additionally, you should be asked to sign a CCTV Consent Form, or agreement, to say that you understand why the cameras are there and that it’s been explained to you how footage will be used and, if required, how and with whom it will be shared. The CCTV is there to ensure that you and your child remain safe whilst you’re away from communal areas of the house where staff are.

Whilst in placement, there may also be some behavioural expectations that you’re expected to follow; for example, no drinking or taking drugs, no unauthorised visitors to the setting, and not taking your child out of the setting without agreeing with staff. Again, these expectations should be explained to you prior to the start of your placement.

Responsibilities and Support

During your placement, you will live and care for your child as if you were living at home, and it is your responsibility to keep your child safe, bathe them, feed them, change them, play with them and ensure that all their care needs are met. If you are unsure how to do this, then staff will be on hand to support you; staff and professionals working in an RFC want to give you the best possible opportunity to return to live independently with your child, but they need to ensure that you are a capable parent and that you can keep yourself and your child safe before recommending that you can return home.

Final Report

At the end of your placement, a Social Worker, independent from the Local Authority and usually employed by the RFC, will write a final report on how you’ve parented over your time in placement. This final report will be used to decide a future care plan for your child.

Support That Matters

Support that matters

Tools and guidance to help families thrive

Streamlined Assessments

Personalised care with Impact Assessments

Tailored Training

Skills to nurture confident
parenting

Focused Care

Resources to support your family’s growth

Created for Residential Family Centres – by a Residential Family Centre

The development of Impact Assessments has been undertaken by Amber Family to record, store, and analyse the wealth of day-to-day observations that are collated during a residential parenting assessment. The information collected informs teaching, support, and the final care plan for a family.

An easy-to-use “Heat Map” documents the parent’s journey from the start of their placement until the publication of their final report and illustrates progress made whilst undergoing their assessment. Additionally, a “real-time” safeguarding action plan can be updated and accessed by all staff working alongside the family. The software provides a safe and robust method of gathering evidence that can be scrutinised in Family Court.

How Impact Assessment will record and assess your parenting capacity?

18 different assessment areas

Skills are scored as ‘achieved independently’ or ‘ongoing support required’ based on observation logs, which help track performance, monitor progress, and identify areas needing improvement.

Safeguarding Action Plan

Impact Assessments uses a safeguarding action plan to help keep your child safe so that all professionals working with you know what we’re worried about in terms of your parenting.

Wellbeing assessment Check

A thorough wellbeing initial assessment and regular check-in sessions to monitor the parent’s mental health, providing support, guidance, and necessary intervention when needed.

What is a residential family centre (RFC)?

A Residential Family Centre (RFC) is a specialised facility designed to support families by providing a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for both parents and children. The primary purpose of an RFC is to offer professional assessment and guidance to ensure that the child’s wellbeing is prioritised while helping parents strengthen their ability to provide appropriate care. In an RFC, families are encouraged to live together as they receive support in areas such as parenting skills, child development, and daily routines. This model is designed to assist in assessing the needs of both the parents and children and provide appropriate interventions to support family growth.

How long is a placement?

The length of a placement in an RFC depends on individual family circumstances and the objectives of the assessment. On average, placements range from a few weeks to several months. A placement typically begins with an assessment period to evaluate your family’s specific needs, followed by a period of tailored support and interventions.

During the placement, regular reviews will be held to assess progress, discuss the next steps, and determine if further support is needed. The length of your stay will be determined based on these ongoing assessments. It’s important to understand that every family’s journey is unique, and the timeline will be adjusted to suit your family’s needs and progress.

This is YOUR parenting assessment, and an Impact Assessment ensures your voice is heard and you’re aware of what professionals are worried about. You’ll also be told what you’re doing well at every point of your placement.

What is expected of parents?

Entering an RFC comes with the expectation that parents will actively participate in the process of family development. Below are some key expectations

Engagement

Parents are expected to be actively involved in the care of their children and in all assessments or support programs.

Collaboration

You will work closely with professionals, including case workers, therapists, and other staff members, to improve your family dynamics.

Commitment to Routine

Parents should follow established routines and guidelines that promote a structured, stable environment for their children.

Self-Reflection

Parents are encouraged to engage in reflective practices, considering both strengths and areas for growth in their parenting style.

Adherence to Rules

Following the centre’s policies and rules is crucial to maintaining a safe and harmonious environment for all residents.

Regular Communication

Open, honest communication with staff is key to ensuring progress and addressing any challenges you may encounter.

What Assessment Models Are Used?

The RFC uses a range of evidence-based assessment models to evaluate parenting skills, the child’s needs, and family dynamics.
These models are designed to provide an accurate picture of the strengths and areas for improvement for both the parents and children involved.

Initial Wellbeing Reports

Prior to starting your assessment, staff will sit with you to find out how you’re feeling, physically, emotionally and mentally

Check-in Reports

Staff will undertake regular wellbeing check ins with you throughout your placement

Weekly Summary Reports

Your progress will be recorded in a heat map and weekly reports and feedback will be provided to you and the Local Authority